Apparatus for Inverting Large Panels

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for inverting a panel including a base assembly, an elongated support assembly mounted on the base assembly, a carriage assembly mounted on the support assembly displaceable along the length thereof, means for displacing the carriage assembly along the length of the support assembly, an elongated beam assembly provided with means for detachably securing a panel, pivotally connected to the carriage assembly and means for pivoting the beam assembly relative to the support assembly.

This invention relates to an apparatus for inverting large panels andmore particularly to such an apparatus for inverting such panels for thepurpose of performing machining functions on opposite sides thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

CNC routers often are used to machine parts from sheets of material suchas plywood or particleboard. Such parts generally are arranged or nestedon a sheet in an attempt to obtain the most efficient possible use ofthe material and to generate the least amount of scrap. Such process isknown in the trade as “nested based manufacturing” when used in themanufacture of such articles as cabinets and furniture. For many of suchproducts utilizing such process, certain parts must be machined on bothsides. The traditional method of accomplishing this is to machine thefirst surface, cut the individual parts free, reload the cut parts ontothe machine and process the backside of each part independently. In theprior art, there is provided a method for first performing such requiredcutting operations on the back side of a material sheet, next causingthe CNC program to pause and prompt the operator to invert the sheet,and upon the completion of the manual inverting operation, completingthe machining operation on the reverse side of the sheet. Although suchprior art method has been an improvement over the previous method ofmachining both sides of a panel, such method presents a major drawback.Certain sheets of material, in sizes commonly used throughout theindustry are both large and heavy inverting such sheets presents a majorimpediment in the machining operation. While the task of physicallyturning such sheets over by hand may be adequate for physically capableoperators working with smaller, lighter materials, such approachpresents a considerable undertaking, even the risk of physical injury toless physically capable operators. Even more capable operators may bechallenged when handling larger, heavier materials.

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus which may be used by a machineoperator to invert large panels mounted on the worktable of a machinefor machining opposite surfaces of the panels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a machinewhich would allow such a machine operator to perform such a panelinverting operation without risk of physical injury.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusoperable to invert large panels mounted on the worktable of a machine inthe least amount of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the invention are achieved by an apparatus operable toinvert a panel partially damped along an edge thereof generallycomprising a base assembly, an elongated support assembly mounted on thebase assembly, a carriage assembly mounted on the support assembly,displaceable along the length thereof, means operatively interconnectingthe carriage assembly and the support assembly for displacing thecarriage assembly along the length of the support assembly, an elongatedbeam assembly including means for detachably securing a panel thereon,pivotally connected to the carriage assembly and means for pivoting thebeam assembly relative to the support assembly.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriage assembly iscaused to be displaced linearly along the length of the supportassembly, and the linear motion of the carriage assembly is convertedinto rotational motion of the beam assembly whereby upon displacement ofthe carriage assembly the full extent of the support assembly, the beamassembly is caused to rotate 180°, correspondingly inverting the panelclamped thereto. Such conversion of motion is provided by a first shaftjournaled vertically in the carriage assembly, a second shaft journaledtransversely in the carriage assembly and rigidly connected to an end ofthe beam assembly, a spur gear mounted on the first shaft meshing with arack disposed along the length of the support assembly functional torotate the first shaft as the carriage assembly is displaced along thelength of the support assembly and a gear set operativelyinterconnecting the first and second shafts for converting rotationalmotion of the first shaft to the second shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the side of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, illustrating certain clamping means of the embodiment in anunclamped condition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view shown in FIG. 3, illustrating theclamping means thereof in a clamped condition;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4,illustrating the carriage assembly of the embodiment disposed at one endof the support assembly thereof with the beam assembly thereof restinghorizontally on the support assembly;

FIG. 6 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, illustrating thecarriage assembly having been displaced linearly an initial distancefrom an end of the support assembly and the beam assembly having beendisplaced rotationally an initial distance from a horizontal position;

FIG. 7 is a further view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, illustratingthe carriage assembly having further been displaced linearly and thebeam assembly further having been displaced rotationally;

FIG. 8 is a still further view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,illustrating the carriage assembly having been displaced the full lengthof the support assembly and the beam assembly having been inverted 180°;and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through8 illustrating a large sheet of material having been loaded on theworktable of a CNC router and gripped by the embodiment in the processof being inverted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an apparatusembodying the present invention which generally includes a supportassembly 20, a carriage assembly 40 mounted on and displaceable linearlyalong the length of the support assembly and a beam assembly 60pivotally connected at one end thereof to the carriage assembly,rotatable in the vertical plane of the support assembly. The supportassembly includes a base member 21, a pair of support legs 22 and 23secured to the base member and an elongated support member 24. Carriageassembly 40 is mounted on and displaceable along a set of verticallyspaced rails 25 and 26 provided on a side of support member 24. Disposedbetween rails 25 and 26 on the sidewall of member 24 is a rack 27extending the full length of support member 24.

Carriage assembly 40 includes a partially supported lead screw 41, ashaft 42 provided with a vertical axis and a shaft 43 provided with anaxis disposed orthogonally relative to a plane including the axis ofshaft 42. Lead screw 41 extends the length of support assembly 20, isjournaled at a far end in a roller bearing provided on a bracket 28mounted on an end of support member 20, and threaded through a threadedmember disposed in a depending component 44 of the carriage assembly.Depending from the carriage assembly is a motor 45 provided with anoutput shaft drivingly connected to a free end of lead screw 41 by meansof a pulley 46 and a drive belt 47. It will be appreciated that byoperation of motor 25, lead screw 41 will be caused to be rotationallydriven thereby displacing carriage assembly 40 linearly along rails 25and 26.

Shaft 42 is journaled in the support structure of the carriage assemblyand further is provided with a spur gear 48 horizontally aligned andmeshing with rack 27, and a helical gear 49. Shaft 43 also is journaledin the support structure of the carriage assembly having an end thereofrigidly secured to an end of beam assembly 60 and is provided with agear portion 50 meshing with helical gear 49.

As best shown in FIG. 2, frame assembly 60 includes a pair of spaced,elongated components 61 and 62 having lengths substantially equal to thelength of support assembly 20, a pair of end wall components 63 and 64and a sidewall component 65 providing an elongated recess 66 providing alateral opening. Sidewall component 65 extends beyond component 62 andfurther is provided with a set of reinforcing brackets 67. Secured toand spaced along beam component 61 within recess 66 is a set ofinflatable bladders 68, each connected to a fluid supply line 69provided with a set of inlet fixtures 70. Mounted on the inflatablebladders is an elongated plate 71 on which there is mounted a rubbergripping pad 72. Disposed on the underside of frame component 62 is asimilar panel 73 provided with a comparable rubber gripping pad.

Panels to be inverted by the apparatus as described, may be gripped andheld by frame assembly 60 merely by inserting an edge of a sheet ofmaterial between elongated panels 71 and 73 while the bladders 68 aredeflated and then applying fluid under pressure in line 69 to inflatebladders 68 causing the inserted edge of the panel to be gripped betweenelongated panels 71 and 73.

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 8, with the edge of a panel inserted andgripped within the recess of beam assembly 60, in the position as shownin FIG. 5, motor 45 may be energized to rotate lead screw 41 therebycausing spur gear 48 to rotate as it is displaced along rack 27.Simultaneously, as the carriage assembly is displaced along the supportassembly, the rotary motion of helical gear 49 is imparted to beamassembly support shaft 43 causing it to rotate in a clockwise directionas shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as the carriage assembly is displaced, to afully inverted position as shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 9, the apparatus as described may be positioned at theend of the worktable of a CNC router 80 to invert a panel 90 resting ona worktable 81 merely by sliding the panel resting on the worktable ofthe router into aligned recess 66 of the adjacent apparatus betweenpanels 71 and 73, inflating the bladders to grip the inserted edge ofthe panel and then operating motor 45 to cause the panel to be invertedin the manner described.

The apparatus as described allows machine operators without physicalcapability to easily, quickly and effectively invert a panel in a timelyand efficient manner.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that thereare a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the presentinvention, which come within the province of those persons havingordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned inventionpertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departingfrom the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scopethereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for inverting a panel, comprising: a base assembly; anelongated support assembly mounted on said base assembly; a carriageassembly mounted on said support assembly, displaceable along the lengththereof; means operatively interconnecting said carriage assembly andsaid support assembly for displacing said carriage assembly along thelength of said support assembly; an elongated beam assembly includingmeans for detachably securing a panel thereon, pivotally connected tosaid carriage assembly; and means for pivoting said beam assemblyrelative to said support assembly.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid means for displacing said carriage assembly and pivoting said beamassembly are functional synchronously to invert said beam assembly. 3.The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pivotal connection is disposed atan end of said beam assembly.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein saidsupport assembly and said beam assembly are of substantially equallengths.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support assembly andsaid beam assembly lie in the same plane and the axis of said pivotalconnection between said carriage assembly and said beam assembly isdisposed orthogonally relative to said plane.
 6. The apparatus of claim5 wherein said pivotal connection is disposed at an end of said beamassembly.
 7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said support assembly andsaid beam assembly are of substantially equal lengths.
 8. The apparatusof claim 5 wherein said means for displacing said carriage assembly andpivoting said beam assembly are functional synchronously to invert saidbeam assembly.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support assemblyand said beam assembly lie in a vertical plane and the axis of saidpivotal connection between said carriage assembly and said beam assemblyis disposed transversely.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein saidmeans for displacing said carriage assembly and pivoting said beamassembly are functional synchronously to invert said beam assembly. 11.The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said pivotal connection is disposed atan end of said beam assembly.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein saidsupport assembly and said beam assembly are of substantially equallengths.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said displacing means isfunctional to displace said carriage assembly a length comparable to thelength of said beam assembly and said pivotal means is functional toinvert said beam assembly 180°.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid displacing means includes a rack disposed along a length of saidsupport assembly, a lead screw disposed parallel to said rack providedwith an end portion journaled in a bracket disposed on said supportassembly, an intermediate portion supported on and threadedly connectedto said carriage assembly and an end portion drivingly connected to amotor mounted on said intermediate portion, a shaft journaled in saidcarriage assembly provided with a spur gear meshing with said rack and ahelical gear meshing with a helical gear provided on a shaft journaledin said carriage assembly and secured to an end of said beam assembly onsaid beam assembly.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said supportassembly includes a set of guide rails spaced parallel to said rack, andsaid carriage assembly is slideably mounted thereon.
 16. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said beam assembly includes an elongated recessdisposed radially relative to said pivotal connection thereof to saidcarriage assembly, configured to receive an edge of a panel to beinverted, thereon; and means for detachably gripping a panel edgeinserted into said recess.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein saidrecess includes opposed pads between which said panel edge is received.18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said recess includes at least two,spaced inflatable bladders which may be inflated to grip and secure apanel edge received in said recess between said pads.
 19. The apparatusof claim 18 including fluid supply lines provided with control means,connected to a source of fluid under pressure.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said beam assembly is provided with a longitudinallydisposed recess disposed in a position whereby upon positioning saidapparatus adjacent a panel disposed on the worktable of a router, suchrecess will be horizontally aligned with said panel, allowing an edge ofsuch panel to be slid into said recess and secured therein, invertedinto alignment to a stratum above said worktable, released and slid backonto said worktable.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein saidapparatus comprises a cooperative of said router.